Plano Voters Reject Tax Proposal Tied to Proposed $3 Billion Dallas Stars Arena

Plano residents voted 54.6% against a tax measure intended to help fund a $700 million bond for the Dallas Stars' proposed $3 billion mixed-use development.

Voters in Plano, Texas, rejected a ballot proposal on Tuesday that would have authorized new taxes to fund a planned arena for the NHL’s Dallas Stars. Unofficial results showed 54.6% of the 102,000 votes cast were against the measure. The proposition sought to implement taxes on tickets, parking, hotel rooms, car rentals, and professional teams to help the city repay $700 million in bonds. These funds were designated for a $3 billion mixed-use project at the site of The Shops at Willow Bend, where the state's last enclosed mall is currently being demolished.

The proposed $1 billion hockey-specific arena would be city-owned, with the Stars planning a 30-year lease starting in 2031. This timeline aligns with the expiration of the team's current lease at the American Airlines Center, which they have shared with the NBA's Dallas Mavericks since 2001. The new site is located approximately 20 miles north of the Stars' current downtown Dallas home.

While the tax authorization failed, the vote did not explicitly block the construction of the broader redevelopment, which is slated to include retail, dining, and entertainment spaces. Mayor John Muns stated the city remains committed to the redevelopment opportunity and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. The Dallas Mavericks are also planning a separate project 10 miles north of downtown on a former mall site as their own lease concludes in 2031.